Increased Risk Heart disease patients need to get straight to the doctor with pneumonia

Heart failure: pneumonia carries a high risk for heart disease

Anyone who suffers from heart failure and is contracting pneumonia, must immediately go to the doctor. Because through this combination, the heart is even more demanding. Mostly antibiotic therapy is needed in the hospital.

Pneumonia can be fatal

According to health experts, about 800,000 people in Germany suffer from pneumonia every year. The dangerous disease can be fatal. The number of deaths from pneumonia in Germany is estimated at about 35,000 per year. For people with heart failure, the disease can be particularly dangerous.

Anyone who suffers from heart failure and is contracting pneumonia, must immediately go to the doctor. The combination of these diseases represents an enormous burden on the heart. (Image: tibanna79 / fotolia.com)

Dangerous combination of pneumonia and heart failure

Patients with pulmonary inflammation (pneumonia / bronchopneumonia), who are more common in patients with heart failure, should seek medical attention immediately. This is indicated by the German Heart Foundation.

"The combination of pneumonia and heart failure is dangerous, because the already weakened heart is often more demanding than the weakened heart muscle can afford," explains Prof. Dr. med. Thomas Meinertz, Chairman of the Board of the German Heart Foundation.

According to the experts, only consistent antibiotic therapy in the hospital (performed via the veins) at the beginning of the infection can prevent a dangerous course.

Experts recommend vaccination

The Foundation recommends patients with heart failure to be vaccinated against influenza every year to protect themselves from a dangerous course of heart disease.

"Influenza vaccination protects against hospital stays and improves life expectancy. A pneumococcal vaccine can also be considered in patients with heart failure, "says the cardiologist.

Patients should discuss this with their doctor best. (Ad)